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Title: INTEGRATED MODELING OF FLOW AND TRANSPORT PROCESSES IN SALT-AFFECTED SOILS

Author
item Van Genuchten, Martinus
item SIMUNEK, JIRKA - UC RIVERSIDE, CA

Submitted to: Proceedings of the International Salinity Forum
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/11/2005
Publication Date: 4/25/2005
Citation: Van Genuchten, M.T., Simunek, J. 2005. Integrated modeling of flow and transport processes in salt-affected soils. In: Proceedings of the International Salinity Forum, Managing Saline Soils and Water: Science, Technology, and Soil Issues. April 25-27, 2005. Riverside, CA pp:461-464.

Interpretive Summary: While irrigation has contributed significantly to increased crop production worldwide, it also has contributed to increased salinization of agricultural lands, and has caused the destruction of agriculture in many areas. Effective management of salt-affected soils requires detailed knowledge of the many coupled processes involved in irrigation and drainage. Computer models are now increasingly used in the management, analysis, and solution of site-specific irrigation, salinization and/or crop production problems. As increasingly powerful computers are being introduced, tremendous opportunities now exist for integrating the various processes involved. One such integrated approach is provided by the HYDRUS models developed at the Salinity Laboratory in collaboration with the University of California, Riverside. These models are Windows-based (MS Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP, and/or NT environments) software packages for simulating water, heat and/or solute movement in one- and two-dimensional soil and groundwater systems. They have been applied to a broad range of subsurface flow and transport problems, including surface and subsurface irrigation, tile drainage design, salinity management, the fate and transport of toxic trace elements, analysis of riparian systems, and virus, colloid, and bacteria transport. This paper briefly summarizes various features of the HYDRUS software packages, as well as recent applications and our future plans.

Technical Abstract: Irrigation has contributed significantly to increased crop production worldwide. Unfortunately, irrigation has contributed also to increased salinization of agricultural lands, and has caused the destruction of agriculture in many areas. Salinity is inevitably associated with the adopted irrigation and drainage practices. Effective management of salt-affected soils hence requires detailed knowledge of the many coupled processes involved. Computer models have become increasingly important tools to assist in the management, analysis, and solution of site-specific irrigation, salinization and/or crop production problems. The introduction of increasingly powerful computers, advanced numerical methods and improved understanding of subsurface flow and transport processes, now provide tremendous opportunities for integrating the various processes involved. One such integrated approach is provided by the HYDRUS models developed at the Salinity Laboratory in collaboration with the University of California, Riverside. In this paper we summarize ongoing research related to the HYDRUS-1D and HYDRUS-2D computer software packages for simulating subsurface one- and multi-dimensional water flow and solute transport. Brief overviews are given of the various features incorporated in the software packages, recent applications, and future plans.